Christmas Tags

I thought this tag looked like fun so here goes....


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I will do either...I am not picky but I LOVE a well wrapped gift...they are so pretty.

2. Real tree or artificial?We started out with a real one...I love the smell and the feel of a real tree. We always had a real tree growing up and I wanted that experience for my kids but, we live in Missouri where real trees cost as much as the fake ones. So, we went fake to save money but, its been about 11 years now and we are beginning to think about change...I have gotten used to the fake one though...Its nice to put it up quickly and I do think our tree is beautiful.

3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? The weekend after New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but, in moderation. One tiny cup a year is good for me. I once laughed suddenly and shot eggnog out of my nose...I haven't been much of a fan ever since.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? There are so many...I can't narrow it down to just one!

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Six or seven...I love them...my favorites are the Jim Shore and the Willow Tree. I also LOVE the one I have from Grandma Doan, it is really meaningful to me to have and care for something that someone else once loved and cared for.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Erinn's brothers.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My kids. They tell me all the time what they want and love!

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Its hard to tell...lets just say I once went to three stores trying to return something I got, not knowing where it was from!

11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail! I think E-cards are cheesy

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I still love Charlie Brown and Rudolph. But, the Muppet's Christmas Carol is right up there. A Christmas Story and Elf crack me up too. I also enjoy the Tim Allen Santa Claus movies...Can't I name them all? I love Christmas movies!!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I can't remember ever doing that...

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? red cabbage, Swedish meatballs, cheese dip... I LOVE our Swedish smorgasbord.

16 Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings by Sarah McLachlan and Barenaked Ladies, I also enjoy O Holy Night by Josh Groban, and Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella by Peter Breinholt. Oh yes, I also love I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, and Feliz Navidad. (All those years of signing feliz navidad in grade school cemented that one!)
Oh and I am a sucker for classical stuff...Mannheim Steamroller, Trans Siberian Orchestra, etc. Is that too much? Sorry:)

18 Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home, though we have talked about travelling...sounds like fun to me!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen {and Rudolph?}

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star. All the way.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We let the kids open one on Christmas Eve and then the rest on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? It all goes by so dang fast.

23. Favorite Christmas tradition? The Advent Calendar, Santa Lucia Day, Dancing around the tree, and the massive smorgasbord of food!

24. Up early or sleeping in? We are up WAY early!

25. Who hands out the gifts? Me or Erinn if he wants to.

26. Does Santa wrap your gifts? Usually Santa's name is on at least one of our gifts...but, our kids all know that Santa is just a fun story. They figured it out on their own...we didn't try to ruin it for them, I swear! But, when they asked us pointed questions we didn't lie to them.

27. Do you tell the Christmas story? Yes, all season long, as often as possible.

28. Do you leave cookies for Santa? YUP... and they are always bitten by morning...Santa would get a tummy ache if he ate the whole cookie at every house!

Well, that was fun, entertaining and educational...Now, its your turn! Tag...your it! Enjoy!!

The nothing blog....

I haven't blogged recently for two reasons...One, I don't think my daily life is that interesting to anyone. and Two, I haven't had a minute on the computer!! Erinn was home from work all last week, (often on the computer:) and the rest of the time we had things to do!!! Primary has been keeping me very busy lately...we had our program in Nov. and now its time to make class changes, print new lists, reevaluate class rooms, make new schedules for the year, etc, etc, etc... My cleaning schedule IS working, it really helps me to have something specific to do. I think I get overwhelmed with the thought of cleaning the entire house everyday. Its really just a mind trick because once I get started, I clean the whole thing anyway! Our Thanksgiving was wonderful, we spent thanksgiving day with Erinn's dad and brothers. Friday, Sarah and I were CRAZY and went shopping at 4am to dive into BLACK FRIDAY it was crazy...we just walked out of several stores, we cut in line at one place, and basically shopped until we couldn't shop anymore!! Then, as soon as I had crawled back into bed, I got a phone call from mom....Its time for thanksgiving dinner, come on over!!! So, I jumped out of bed :) and we had a wonderful family dinner with mom and dad, Seth, Sarah and kids, Jake, Misty and Gid, Hillary, Alex and kids! It was so much fun! I love seeing everyone and eating!!! Need I say more!!?? Saturday, we had a lovely visit from Kristi Channell and her family, the kids were so excited that they came to visit and we had so much fun together. We'll have to do it again!! That evening it was back to moms for Project Nativity...I know, some of you think we're crazy, but, you'll be jealous when were done! Okay so, this last week, I turned myself into a spoiled little princess...I slept until ten, had breakfast in bed, and rarely had to prepare a meal...just kidding!!! (except for the sleeping part!) Erinn was home and we got so much done! He took apart and repaired the fuel line vapor canister on my van (scary right!) well, he did a great job! (I didn't know he had that in him!), He put storm windows on our house, replaced the valve on the toilet, put up Christmas decorations, shopped for Christmas, I can't remember what else...(did I mention A LOT of computer time...:) Anyhow, we had a great week...which surprised me because I thought it would be torture, Seriously!!! Well, this got way too long so, sorry. Hope it wont be an entire month till I blog again! Isn't Jenna darling?!

Thats Life!!!

Okay so, life is crazy! I've finally gotten to the point where I can no longer stand the sight or smell of my house! So, I decided to make myself a schedule...You know, clean the kitchen on Monday, the bathroom on Wednesday, etc...I figure with the kids doing daily chores, and me always doing the necessary dishes, vacuuming and laundry, a once a week deep clean ought to be good enough (easily better than it is now right?!!) well, the other day I was washing dishes and ground up a cup in my garbage disposal! A small glass cup! It was freaky...I put my hand into the disposal (don't try this at home:) to get out the bigger chunks of glass and pulled out pieces until I cut myself....then I just ground up the rest!!! And....it still works! I know, its probably bad for the environment but, I think its a testament to how well things were made thirty or more years ago (my garbage disposal is at least that old!) Oh, and my girls climbed up my dryer to see what was in the washer...well, now the dryer wont stay shut unless I duct tape it shut!!! So, you can see how difficult cleaning is in my house! But, the schedule is working! Its the most amazing thing. I have a specific job to do each day and it gets done really well! The rest of the house is pretty easy to keep up because it is clean from the day before! So, in less than a week I have fantastic results! And, I'm not afraid to go to the bathroom upstairs anymore! Bonus!!!! I know, its not as cool as Garth! Oh well....................*sigh*

What a day...

I know, its a horrible pic but, this is how I looked at the end of the day! Okay, now that I have had time to cool off...sort of...I think I can tell you about my Monday! It had to be one of my worst days in a while. It started first thing in the morning when we were running late for school, I thought the little boy that I babysit wasn't coming because he usually gets here early, so I was upstairs yelling at Hannah to go downstairs so we can comb her hair ("Get yourself downstairs now!!!") when Sam says, "Mom, Wyatt's here." I flood with embarrassment and try to recover, (not to mention the awful state of my house) Then Jenna breaks out a monstrous tantrum and starts ripping off her clothes so I carry her screaming, with her pants around her ankles to the van!!!So, off to school and then the gym...I had a tough workout because I was already feeling the effects of an all over grumpiness, when I went into my body sculpt class and asked my instructor (who has had a boob job) where she buys her bras (I figured if she spent that much money on her boobs she would also buy a nice bra) well, we talked and she asked me if I had ever been fitted...I said yes, but, the sizing is never right because I don't actually fit the size that I measure (a B cup) so, this very thin, tattooed, pierced freak-girl next to me says with disgust "you are so not a B!!" Duh!!! Isn't that what I just said??!! And if I wanted an opinion, I sure as heck wouldn't ask her! so then I go home, shower, and start the laundry(I had to get Hannah's dance shirt clean by this evening) then I start steam cleaning the carpets under my couches like a crazy person because I cannot stand hidden dirt and it has been under there way too long. I decide to make a few phone calls as well...I call the vet because the dog has stitches that never dissolved (he was neutered in May!) He said to bring him right in, so off we go to the vet! It didn't take long, and when we got home I went ahead and gave him a flea treatment. Mom called and for some reason read me my horoscope which basically said don't share your humorous enlightenment with others because what you think is funny wont make sense to anyone else! So, if this blog doesn't make any sense...blame the stars!!! Ha Ha!! Okay we got home from the vet, mailed some bills, and picked up a prescription, then it was off to pick the kids up from school. While I waited in the parking lot, I called to make our eye appointments...I need contacts badly...and the kids haven't been in a couple of years so, its time...that was a huge pain and took much longer than I thought it would. Then we drive over to the middle school to pick up my oldest, he is late, I am wondering what he's doing, if hes at the book fair or dead...etc. He finally arrives at the car (all the other cars and buses had come and gone) and proceeds to tell me that "nature called" I said gross Sam, too much information! but, he, being a boy, went on to tell me about his spicy bean burrito with a side of beans and five packets of hot sauce! It really burns and he had to flush twice!! Like its a trophy he just won!!! (I guess you had to be there!) He then tells me that a secret admirer left a note and some gifts in his locker! I can't handle my kids growing up, I think I might die...Its raining now...the littlest ones (Jenna and Wyatt) are outside throwing cat food at the older kids, I have just enough time to finish steam cleaning the carpet send Wyatt home with his mom and get Hannah ready to Dance at the football field (in the rain!) It was crazy...Erinn brings home Wendys, and I take Hannah out, when I get home Jenna starts bawling again so I just sit on the couch and veg...Eventually the girls fell asleep. There is a God! What is wrong with me??? I have never been so randomly angry...wait...maybe I am just noticing it for the first time?!! Yikes I need to go to bed!

Breathtaking

These are photos taken by the Hubble telescope, and I think they are so breathtaking and beautiful. The first pic is of a spiral galaxy that is 11.6 million light years away! The second is an infant star cluster, a photo of stars being born and shot out into space...also from a whole other galaxy! Amazing!

"In the sequence of events as set forth in the scripture, God first created the earth, "and the earth was without form, and void" (Genesis 1:2) He then separated the light from the darkness, and the waters from the land. Then came the creation of vegetation of all kinds, giving the beauty of trees and grass, flowers and shrubs. Then followed the creation of animal life in the sea and upon the land. Having looked over all of this, He declared it to be good. He then created man in His own likeness and image. Then as His final creation, the crowning of His glorious work, He created woman. I like to regard Eve as His masterpiece after all that had gone before, the final work before He rested from His labors. I do not regard her as being in second place to Adam. She was placed at his side as an helpmeet. They were together in the Garden, they were expelled together, and they labored together in the world into which they were driven."
~Gordon B. Hinckley (One bright shining hope)

Childhood experiences

There are times in a persons life when they realize that they will not be able to duplicate their own childhood for their children and maybe that's a good thing....but, there are still some things I want my children to feel and see. I want my kids to sweat and hike for, what seems like hours, and then stand in utter amazement at the top of a mountain and feel this overwhelming sense of accomplishment. Then walk down the mountain and squeeze through wet caves and feel as though they are the national geographic discovering something amazing. I want them to walk into a pristine redwood forest and stare up into the enormous trees and wonder at God's creations. To smell, see and experience the redwood forest. Its incredible! I want them to see 100,000 monarch butterflies gathering before they migrate to Mexico and be astonished and the sheer numbers and the intricacies of nature. I want them to play in tide pools and love the ocean. To smell the salt in the air, to know the difference between a sea otter and a sea lion. To travel together and play together, to slide down the beautiful natural water slide of Slide Rock, and then stare in amazement into the vast Grand Canyon. Although maybe seeing it from the bottom would be better, I can feel my stomach turning even now as I think of the possibility of one of them slipping over the edge. (I guess I have a major problem with heights!) Anyway there are so many amazing things in the world to see and do...I know that I will not be able to give them all that is available. But, can't they at least have what I had? It really doesn't seem like too much to ask, but, we live in a whole new place and they are growing up in a different world than we did. Although I am determined that they see all these places I know they will experience things in their own way...So, maybe my job is to help them appreciate what they do have in their lives. The joy of running through a field at dusk to catch a jar full of fireflies, having their cousins double as best friends, being loved and invited by their grandparents to have sleepovers, camp outs, and vacations together. They get to have weather...to smell the air when a huge thunderstorm is coming, to see the massive dark clouds quickly approaching from the distance, to watch lightening shows that are incredible and beautiful. The air after a storm smells even better! They get to rush out and pick up chunks of ice after a hailstorm! Winter is amazing too...they get to see the unbelievable and devastating beauty of an ice storm, they get to build snowmen, snow angels, snow forts and have snowball fights. They get to smell the grass after the hay has been cut, and see deer, turkey, raccoons and possums almost every time we drive somewhere! This really is an amazing place to live. They are young and there is plenty of time for their own experiences and how will I know what makes a lasting impression? We have taken them to caves and zoos, they have hiked up a canyon, with their grandma leading the way! They go camping and fishing and I know there is lots more to come. Okay so I'll admit I completely over think things, and I am a little overwhelmed now, but, at least its out of my head! Isn't parenting great!!! Oh, by the way, I love you mom and dad...I think my childhood was fantastic!